Month: January 2018

Ombudsman dealt with 97 direct provision complaints

The Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has published a commentary on his office’s experience of dealing with complaints from refugees and asylum seekers living in direct provision centres.

The Ombudsman’s Office began accepting complaints from people in Direct Provision last April. Since then, it has received 97 formal complaints from residents.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Tyndall said direct provision accommodation is fine for those staying for a couple of weeks, as it was originally intended, but is not suitable for long-term stays.

Catherine was one of the first volunteers with New Horizon when the Direct Provision site opened in 2000. At that time conditions were very difficult and we were all attempting to understand what was happening and what we could and should do.

Officially Catherine taught English but her real contribution was to listen and help whenever she could. Her gentle and kind nature made her a good friend at a time when we badly needed friends.